Parents fined over term holidays
Fixed penalties have been issued to 43 parents in Devon for taking their children out of school in term time.
The higher cost of holidays during the school breaks has been blamed for the absences.
Parents are given a warning in the first instance and can be fined up to £100 if they do it again.
Some parents have said it is a risk worth taking because of the expense. No fines have been issued in Plymouth and Torbay so far this academic year.
"It's certainly going to make people think twice about taking their kids out of school, but £100 is probably a lot cheaper than the difference in the cost of a holiday," one mother told BBC News.
'Deep frustration'
According to the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), schools can grant up to 10 days authorised holiday per year, although it is not a right.
Parents whose child fails to attend school regularly are committing an offence.
The DCSF said there were two levels of penalty notices - £50 if the fine was paid within 28 days and £100 if it was paid later than 28 days but within 42 days.
Parents who refuse to pay the fixed penalty can be charged under the 1996 Education Act.
Richard Newton-Chance, the principal of Queen Elizabeth Community College in Crediton, said all measures which encouraged parents to leave their children in school for the whole academic term were useful.
Early booking
"I think it's very difficult for parents. The holiday industry puts a premium on holidays that happen during August and the other school holidays," he said.
"That encourages parents to take their kids out of school which I think is a great pity.
"We want them to be in school and taking part in their education and we spend a lot of time and effort on making sure kids do attend regularly, so it's a deep frustration for us."
Mr Newton-Chance said it was perfectly reasonable for education welfare officers to use the fixed penalty fines.
Plymouth travel agent Peter Goord said probably one of the best options for parents would be to book holidays as early as possible as some firms offer free, or discounted, children's places.
Booking late was another, but riskier, option, he added.
Source: BBC News 28th January 2009.
28th Jan 2009
